Uganda is another interesting destination where travelers can engage in farm trips. These trips showcase Uganda’s thriving agriculture sector.
Agriculture is one of the key economic sectors of Uganda since more than 70 % of the country’s population engages in the activity and is also considered to be the backbone of the country.
In 2018, the government of Uganda under the Ministry of Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities launched the agrotourism program.
This kind of tourism is also aimed at showcasing the agriculture of Uganda to the world. In engaging in agro-tourism, travelers encounter several plantations, animal farms, subsistence farms, and many others.
What is the impact of agro-tourism on the local communities of Uganda?
Agriculture has played a vital role in Uganda’s economy and has impacted the social and economic status of the country. Some of these impacts of agro-tourism on the economy include;
Source of employment opportunities for the people living around the farms since they act as guides where they earn income which improves the standards of living.
Generation of government revenues through taxes that are put on the several agro-tourism and this improves the status of the country through helping in the development of the infrastructure like roads, hospitals, and markets.
Creates awareness in the world of how Uganda communities produce several crops that are usually in demand in the world market.
Creates direct market to the locally harvested products on the different agro-tourism destinations visited like fruits.
It provides the opportunity for knowledge sharing of the different products grown on the different farms. This helps to improve the product quality and improve on the harvests.
Improves environmental conservation since some farms practice agroforestry that impacts a lot to the environment.
Where to engage in the farm trips in Uganda?
On a Uganda farm trip, there are several destinations that you can visit for the safari and some of these include;
Kakira Sugar Estate.
This sugar cane estate is situated in eastern Uganda in Uganda’s adventure city . It is one of the largest sugar plantations in East Africa which produces sugarcane on a large scale.
While on a safari to his sugar plantation, you will engage in seeing how the sugar cane is planted, cared for, and harvested up to the processing stage.
This estate is about 80 kilometers away from Kampala and you will take about 2 to 3 hours to reach the estate.
Ndali Vanila Farm Kibale.
This tropical mixed farm is situated in western Uganda near volcano craters of the Ndali crater adjacent to Kibale National Park. It is about 1000 arcs of land and the main crop in this farm is vanilla.
It is a privately owned farm that dates in the history of Uganda around 1920 where it was owned and operated by Major Price Trevor. This farm was aimed at the growing of the tea as the main crop.
In 1960, the Kingdom of Tooro engaged in the taking over of this farm where the tea was grown on a large scale. Vanilla was also introduced to the farm which made it more popular.
While visiting this farm can engage in tea harvesting, banana brewing and distilling of gin, vanilla harvesting, and many others.
Lwero organic pineapple farm.
Lwero organic pineapple farm is located within Lwero district in central Uganda and it is based on the growing of organic pineapples. On this farm, you hunt for the fresh local pineapples that are ready for harvesting.
You will also learn how planting is done, taste the fresh pineapples, and have a taste of the products made out of the pineapples.
Most of the harvest pineapples harvested are usually exported to the international markets.
Kaynela farm.
With a tagline of “Feel the nature”, the farm is located within central Uganda in the Kayunga district since this farm focuses on growing of organic crops and rearing of local breeds of domestic animals. It sits on over 130 acres of land and its major aim is to produce high-quality products.
While on the farm you can have a taste of the organically grown crops, encounter the local breeds of goats, fishing tours, quad biking, movie nights, and many others.
During the safari to Kaynela farm, you can also engage in stay at the lodge within Kaynela farm.
Rubona Stock Farm.
Rubona stock farm is situated in western Uganda in Bunyangabu district which is among the oldest farms in Uganda that was established in the early 1950s as a dairy farm.
It is made up of exotic breeds of cattle like Friesian cattle that are purposely bred for dairy farming.
On this farm , you can have several milk products like yogurt, cow ghee, butter, and many others.
Mukono farm.
Mukono Farm is popularly known for interbreeding of local breeds and exotic breeds of goats and cows. It is nested in central Uganda on Mukono Kyetume Road near the Nyabubare dairy farm.
There are quite a number of breeds of goats and cows from South Africa and the Netherlands that are usually inter-breed to get high-quality products to ensure the best performance.
Kimihingo farm.
One of the old farms in Uganda with several local breeds of cattle which include long-horned cattle. it is a family-based business under the management and ownership of Emmanuel Kimihingo who is a head of this family.
Kimihingo farm is based on the rearing of the local breeds of cattle which are considered to be producing milk of the high-fat content.
Whereas on this farm, You can engage in activities like animal breeding, milking, grazing, churning, nightlife, and many others.
Igara tea estate.
This tea estate is located in western Uganda and is among the largest tea estates in Uganda that your agriculture trips . In this tea estate, You can see several activities that the locals do like harvesting, collecting, processing to get out the tea, and many others.
During the farm trips around the Igara tea estate , travelers can also visit several other cattle farms that are around the area which have both local and exotic breeds of cattle that travelers encounter during their safaris.
In these farms , travelers engage in the activities like milking , grazing , churning , and many others.
How to book for a farm trip in Uganda?
As travelers are planning a farm trip to Uganda , they are supposed to use the licensed and reliable tour operators like Allanblackia safaris. As you check out with the tour operator , you will make out arrangements on what kind farms that you need to visit during the farm trip to Uganda.
How do travelers get to the farms?
Travelers are supposed to use the reliable tour operators who ensure the best transport means that will take around the several farms as listed in the travel package.